Azubuike Hires An Agent, Done At Uk

THE MORNING BUZZ

Junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike, Kentucky's leading scorer this season, has signed with an agent and will forego his final season of eligibility.

In a statement released by the university, Azubuike officially announced his intention to enter the NBA draft and not return for his senior season.

"I know all the implications of signing with an agent," Azubuike said. "I believe I am ready and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get better before the draft."

The 6-foot-5 and 220-pound Azubuike averaged 14.7 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding this season at 4.7 per game.

MORE BASKETBALL: Georgetown leading scorer Brandon Bowman, a 6-8 forward, said he'll enter the draft. Bowman hasn't hired an agent, so he can protect his college eligibility. . . . Miami sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz said he will return for his junior season and not enter the draft. . . . Best-selling author Mitch Albom apologized to readers of the Detroit Free Press for incorrectly reporting that two former Michigan State players were at the Spartans' Final Four loss to North Carolina. He said he wrote the column before the game took place. Albom said he based the column on what former Michigan State players Mateen Cleaves and Jason Richardson told him they planned to do. . . . Four months after being fired as coach at Southern California, Henry Bibby was named coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

HOCKEY: DENVER, NORTH DAKOTA REACH FINAL

Luke Fulghum scored two first-period power-play goals, and defending champion Denver's defense did the rest in a 6-2 victory over rival Colorado College (31-9-3) in the NCAA semifinals at Columbus, Ohio.

Gabe Gauthier added two goals and an assist and Brett Skinner had four assists for Denver (31-9-2). Matt Carle chipped in with a goal and two assists, Jeff Drummond had two assists and Adrian Veideman added a late goal. Fulghum also had an assist to go with his two scores.

In the other semifinal, Erik Fabian scored two goals and goaltender Jordan Parise stopped 26 shots to lead North Dakota (25-14-5) to a 4-2 win over Minnesota (28-15-1). North Dakota will meet Denver on Saturday night in the final.

AUTO RACING: F-1 TEAMS PLAN BOYCOTT

Nine Formula One teams and five carmakers decided to boycott a meeting next week with auto racing's world governing body, boosting their bid to start their own series in 2008. FIA President Max Mosley called the meeting for April 15 to discuss regulations for the 2008 season. A similar meeting Jan. 28 also was boycotted by the nine teams, with only Ferrari attending.

In addition to the nine teams, five of the manufacturers in Formula One -- BMW, Mercedes, Renault, Toyota and Honda -- also participated in the decision to decline Mosley's invitation.

After last season, Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone persuaded Ferrari to break away from the other nine teams and sign a long-term deal to stay with his series, which angered the rest of the F-1 paddock. The fallout has resulted in a bloc of three -- Mosley, Ecclestone and Ferrari -- against the group of nine teams and five manufacturers.

BOXING: PAZ LOSES DRIVER'S LICENSE

Former boxing champion Vinny Paz will lose his driver's license until at least December for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test during a police stop last year, a judge ruled. Paz pleaded no contest to refusing the test when he was arrested by Warwick (R.I.) police on Dec. 16, 2004, for allegedly swerving on the road and going double the speed limit in a 30-mph zone.

TENNIS: DAVENPORT WINS AT AMELIA ISLAND

Lindsay Davenport needed just 55 minutes to beat Kveta Peschke 6-2, 6-2, before rain postponed most of the afternoon matches at the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island. No. 5 seed Venus Williams and Marta Domachowska were tied at one set each before the delay. They will finish their match today. The winner will face Davenport.

The match between second-seeded Serena Williams and Mary Pierce also was moved to today.